Fleet Air Arm Volunteers Honoured

Crown Copyright image

​The church welcomed four Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Air) Branch veterans to a Service of Commemoration yesterday honouring them, and another 8,000 men, who enlisted just prior to WWII until the branch's disbandment at the beginning of 1957.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve aviators made a huge contribution to the Fleet Air Arm, serving with distinction in every theatre of operations; the Battle of Britain, the hunt for and sinking of the Bismark, the attacks on the Tirpitz, battles of the Atlantic and Taranto, in the Pacific and, in the 1950s, Korea.
Amongst the 1,544 officers who made the ultimate sacrifice was Temporary Sub Lieutenant (A) James Donald Sutherland RNVR who was killed on 31 July 1945 (the day after his 20th birthday) when his Barracuda, operating from HMS CONDOR, went down in the North Sea 27 miles northeast of Arbroath during a night navigational exercise. He is commemorated on the Lee-On-Solent Memorial, Hampshire - Bay 6, Panel 6. His trainee Observer, Acting Leading Airman Edward Charles Burton (21), also lost his life and was not recovered.
Some of the many guests attending the Service, and the dedication of a small memorial plaque arranged by Navy Wings, were Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathhurst GCB DL, Admiral Sir George Zambellas GCB DSC ADC DL, Vice Admiral Michael Gretton CB CVO and Rear Admiral Anthony Rimington, head of the Fleet Air Arm.
Ninety one year old Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Air) Branch veteran Peter Rainbird CBE DL paid homage to his former colleagues as part of his tribute during the Service, especially those who preceded him seeing action during the war years.
Following the Service Navy Wings hosted a reception lunch in their Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton hangar, where the unveiling of their recently restored Chipmunk 'G-RNVR' and a special heritage flight of Swordfish Mk I, Serial Number W5856, took place. WS5856 is the oldest surviving airworthy aircraft of its type in the world.
An Order of Service and the corresponding Navy Wings article can be accessed by clicking on the buttons below the image slideshow.

Order of Service

Navy Wings Article